"Powell just feels like an AI-generated leading man" — Internet divided over Ryan Gosling vs Glen Powell comparison by a Hollywood producer

In a report published by The Wrap on August 26, an unnamed Hollywood producer compared Ryan Gosling and Powell in the context of the latter's latest films performing well at the box office.

The Hollywood producer spoke exclusively to the publication about Powell's last two films, Twisters and Anyone But You, doing much better than expected at the box office. The producer compared Powell's popularity to that of Ryan Gosling and opined:

“Glen Powell is most definitely an up-and-coming movie star in the sense that audiences now go to movies to see him. Unlike an actor like Ryan Gosling whose appeal is mostly limited to female audiences, Glen appeals to both females and males."

Fans were quick to react to the producer's statements, as many took to X to share their contradicting opinions. Some users believe Glen Powell is no match for Gosling's screen presence and charm.

"Sure, Powell has some charisma, but Gosling has that plus presence, range, dimensions, and enough talent to lift a role/film. Imo, Powell just feels like an AI-generated leading man," one person said.

"Why are people trying so hard to make glen powell happen?," a fan questioned.

"I’ve never seen a glen powell movie lol," another fan added.

"Dudes see a Ryan Gosling movie and make it their persona, Glen had done 3 movies and people saw them because of Tom Cruise, Sydney Sweeney and Nostalgia," an individual opined.

Meanwhile, other users were appreciative of Glen Powell and agreed with the producer's thoughts.

"Das cause Glenn Powell is a zaddy," a netizen wrote.

"In Glen We Trust, and his reign of being SUPERSTAR is finally upon us," another individual exclaimed.

"Why are we dragging Ryan Gosling? The first paragraph was spot on though," a fan shared.

"He was cooking until he said Ryan Gosling is mostly limited to a female audience because I know for sure most men find him hot af and watch for him," an X user mentioned.

Glen Powell was last seen in Lee Isaac Chung's Twisters, which surpassed $335 million worldwide. He also starred in the rom-com Anyone But You alongside Sydney Sweeney last year, which grossed $220 million worldwide.

Meanwhile, Gosling was widely appreciated for his performance as Ken in Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023). He last starred in the action-comedy film The Fall Guy alongside Emily Blunt.

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A look back at Glen Powell and Ryan Gosling's last two films

"Barbie" European Premiere (image via Getty)

Glen Powell's last two feature films were Anyone But You (2023) and Twisters (2024), both of which did extremely well at the box office. Widely appreciated as a rom-com hero for his performances in films like Set It Up (2018) and Hit Man (2023), Powell was a clear choice for the lead role opposite Sydney Sweeney in Anyone But You.

The romantic comedy features two strangers, Bea and Ben, who meet at a coffee shop and sparks fly between them soon after. Later, certain misunderstandings lead them to separate, but they soon meet again at Bea's sister's wedding.

The film follows the age-old fake dating trope, but the critics appreciated the chemistry between the leads. Despite mixed reviews, the film succeeded at the box office, grossing $220 million worldwide. The film also gained increased popularity after it was released on Netflix.

Ryan Gosling also enjoyed a successful 2023 after the massive success of Greta Gerwig's Barbie. He starred as Barbie's boyfriend, Ken, and was appreciated for the satirical undertone in his character. The actor was nominated for the Best Supporting Role category at the Academy Awards for his performance.

His performance in the film's popular song, I'm Just Ken, quickly became a pop culture phenomenon, especially after he performed the track live at the 2024 Oscars. Barbie also became the highest-grossing film of 2023 and Warner Bros's highest-grosser of all time.

After Barbie's monumental success, Gosling starred in the action comedy The Fall Guy. The film received positive reviews from critics but could not perform up to the mark at the box office. It grossed around $179 million worldwide, but Gosling received praise for his work.

Meanwhile, Powell last starred in the disaster drama Twisters alongside Daisy Edgar Jones. The film follows a group of storm chases trapped in a tornado disaster in Oklahoma. The film grossed over $300 million worldwide and received positive word-of-mouth.

Ryan Gosling will be seen next in the sci-fi film Project Hail Mary. Glen Powell's next film is the black-comedy film Huntington.